iPhone 3G without data plan?

I was planning on getting the new iPhone and simply unsuscribing from the $30 ATT data plan and using wifi. I called a rep today to see if this would be possible, and he told me that if i took the data plan off my account, ATT wouldnt let me use my iphone for calls either.

What if you switched the SIM with that of another AT&T phone? For example, I now have a find iPod touch (my 1st gen iPhone), but my wife would like to use it as her cell phone minus the data plan. Theoretically, the phone and iPod functions should still work, with the SIM from her flip phone, and if I reinsert the original SIM when I sync with iTunes, I should still, theoretically, be able to sync up her music and movies as well as install future updates.

Or, at least that's the way I think it can work. As we're already on AT&T, it's not as if we're stiffing them for what we're receiving (with the exception of WiFi on the 1st gen iPhone, but as AT&T doesn't provide that, it really shouldn't matter) or receiving any more that that for which we already pay. What do y'all think?

What if you switched the SIM with that of another AT&T phone? For example, I now have a find iPod touch (my 1st gen iPhone), but my wife would like to use it as her cell phone minus the data plan. Theoretically, the phone and iPod functions should still work, with the SIM from her flip phone, and if I reinsert the original SIM when I sync with iTunes, I should still, theoretically, be able to sync up her music and movies as well as install future updates.

Or, at least that's the way I think it can work. As we're already on AT&T, it's not as if we're stiffing them for what we're receiving (with the exception of WiFi on the 1st gen iPhone, but as AT&T doesn't provide that, it really shouldn't matter) or receiving any more that that for which we already pay. What do y'all think?

Now I know in the above post I said it would not work... I'm not hearing that is may be possible from a article I read today. Seems like the new firmware may have changed something... give it a shot. Though I'm not certain it will work.

I had an existing att plan without data (but I had unlimited texts). What I did that worked perfectly was unlock and jailbreak my 2.0.2 iphone (using winpwn). Since it was unlocked, I was able to drop my sim chip in and use the phone for calls/texting. Then through Cydia I downloaded BossPrefs. BossPrefs easily allowed me turn off the edge network while keeping my wi-fi connection. So now my iphone gets internet when I am at a hotspot, otherwise I just have phone/texting capabilities. I have NO data plan and no monthly charges for data. Just a voice plan.

I had an existing att plan without data (but I had unlimited texts). What I did that worked perfectly was unlock and jailbreak my 2.0.2 iphone (using winpwn). Since it was unlocked, I was able to drop my sim chip in and use the phone for calls/texting. Then through Cydia I downloaded BossPrefs. BossPrefs easily allowed me turn off the edge network while keeping my wi-fi connection. So now my iphone gets internet when I am at a hotspot, otherwise I just have phone/texting capabilities. I have NO data plan and no monthly charges for data. Just a voice plan.

Sure that would work for a first gen iPhone but not with a 3g. Sounded like the OP was getting a 3g. I could be wrong though.

*if you did do that on a first gen you would also lose others features such as visual voicemail, etc...

I'm just wondering if there's a way to turn off any other connections on the iPhone and just use Wi-Fi (for internet usage), so that there's no need for the data plan?

I would be perfectly fine without internet access 24/7, but I've had some of the sales people tell me that the phone can automatically switch to 3G or whatever, and you'll be stuck with a $400 bill at the end of the month without even knowing it.

They've also said that they don't have a complete way of blocking your access so that you don't use data.

Is it possible do so yourself? Or do you have to hack your phone for that?

Yea I don't think there's a way that could work. Whenever I call tech support they recognize what kind of phone I have. I think the SIM card reads the phone's IMEI number so whenever you call they can look it up to see what kind of phone you have. And since data is required with the 3G, they will know and it's unavoidable.

If you don't use the same iphone you bought from AT&T on the AT&T account, then AT&T should not be able to add the data plan. You can always use a non-iphone to obtain a new non-iphone SIM and then use iphone. ALso, why would you need to talk to AT&T customer service so often when you can do a lot online.

I have a new family plan with 2 iphones and want to get rid of the data plan since I don't need it. I will swap the 2 phones after removing the data plan. I can also use a different phone to call AT&T with if required so that they can't identify the iphone.

I am not sure if SIM has something to do with the iphone since they gave me a new SIM when I exchanged my other Nokia 3G phone.

Can someone share more info?

Originally Posted by iLoveiPhones

Yea I don't think there's a way that could work. Whenever I call tech support they recognize what kind of phone I have. I think the SIM card reads the phone's IMEI number so whenever you call they can look it up to see what kind of phone you have. And since data is required with the 3G, they will know and it's unavoidable.

I'm not sure how you get to the $400 a month bill? We have two phones here in the US and we pay $129 for both, unlimited internet, and 700 combined minutes, free weekends and evenings, and free cell to cell.

You'd only have to pay another $25 if you wanted unlimited texting. I don't know how that works since I don't text (never understood the attraction when I can just pick up the phone and call my friends).

I have 2 lines with at&t. I temporarily switched my sim cards just to see if my other sim would work in my iPhone. It did. Anything that had to do with data. I was even getting phone calls for that hour that I had it on. Connection to wi-fi was simple. They're lying to u.

I currently have an At&t blackberry curve and I really would like an iphone. Really the only reason I want the iphone is to have my music and phone all in one. I already have unlimited texting. What I wanted to know is if I bought an unlocked iphone off ebay, then just put my sim card from the blackberry into the iphone, would it work without the data plan? I don't have a data plan on my blackberry I just use it for texting and phone calls.

I currently have an At&t blackberry curve and I really would like an iphone. Really the only reason I want the iphone is to have my music and phone all in one. I already have unlimited texting. What I wanted to know is if I bought an unlocked iphone off ebay, then just put my sim card from the blackberry into the iphone, would it work without the data plan? I don't have a data plan on my blackberry I just use it for texting and phone calls.

You have to get the Data Plan on the iphone AT&T will detect the iphone if you try and use it without it.